PoE 2 Toxic Growth
It is a Skill Gem.
Attack
Projectile, AoE, Duration, Bow
Tier: 5 (Ranger)
Level: 4
Cost: 12 Mana
Attack Damage: 66%
Requires: Level 9, 21 Dex
Requires: Bow
Leap into the air and fire a volley of arrows which cause toxic pustules to sprout from the ground on impact. The pustules explode after a delay and can be Poisoned, causing them to explode faster and more violently.
Pustules explode after 6.00 seconds
- +0.7 seconds to Attack Time
- Fires 8 Projectiles
- Base explosion radius is 0.8 metres
- Stored poison adds up to 1 metre to base explosion radius
- Stored poison grants up to 100% more explosion Damage
Skills can be managed in the Skills Panel.
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Toxic Growth is a Bow-based Attack skill in Path of Exile 2, designed for Ranger players who enjoy a blend of projectile-based damage, area denial, and Poison synergy. This skill is a Tier 5 gem that offers an exciting combination of AoE, duration effects, and poison-based mechanics, making it a great choice for players who want to control the battlefield with explosive toxic effects.
Skill Gem Details
- Category: Attack, Projectile, AoE, Duration, Bow
- Tier: 5 (Ranger)
- Level: 4
- Cost: 12 Mana
- Attack Damage: 66%
- Required Level: 9
- Required Dexterity: 21
- Required Weapon: Bow
Skill Mechanics
Toxic Growth is a unique skill that combines projectile attacks, toxic effects, and explosive AoE damage. Here’s how the skill works:
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Leap and Volley of Arrows:
- Upon activation, you leap into the air and fire a volley of arrows. These arrows hit the ground and cause toxic pustules to sprout from the impact points.
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Toxic Pustules:
- The pustules remain on the ground for 6.00 seconds before exploding. These explosions cause damage in an area around them, making this skill particularly effective for crowd control or area denial.
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Poison Synergy:
- The pustules can be Poisoned, which causes them to explode faster and with more intensity. The Poison effect stored in the pustules adds additional explosion damage, making it a skill that rewards Poison-focused builds.
- The more Poison stacks accumulated on the pustules, the larger the explosion radius and the greater the damage dealt. Poisoning the pustules significantly enhances the overall effectiveness of this skill.
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Explosion Radius:
- The base explosion radius of the pustules is 0.8 meters, but this can be increased by adding Poison stacks. Each Poison stack contributes up to 1 meter to the base radius, allowing you to increase the explosion coverage.
- Additionally, stored Poison grants up to 100% more explosion damage, making the skill even more potent in Poison-oriented builds.
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Projectile Mechanics:
- Toxic Growth fires 8 projectiles with each cast, meaning that you can create multiple toxic pustules in a single shot. This allows you to cover a larger area and cause several explosions simultaneously, increasing the potential damage output.
- The attack time is increased by +0.7 seconds, so timing and positioning become important for maximizing the skill’s effectiveness.
Strategic Uses
Toxic Growth is a versatile skill that fits well into Poison-based builds while also offering AoE and damage over time mechanics. Here are some of the best ways to use it in combat:
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Crowd Control and Area Denial:
- The exploding pustules create damage zones that hinder enemies, making Toxic Growth an effective crowd control tool. You can use it to block paths or force enemies into confined spaces where the explosions deal devastating damage.
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Synergy with Poison Builds:
- This skill is perfect for Poison-focused builds, as it leverages Poison damage to enhance the explosive effects. By maximizing Poison damage through passive skill trees and support gems, you can make the explosions much more deadly.
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Large Group Damage:
- Since Toxic Growth fires 8 projectiles per cast, it can affect a wide area of enemies. The toxic pustules will explode upon a delay, so they offer the opportunity to damage multiple enemies at once. This makes it great for large packs of enemies in open spaces or in confined areas like corridors.
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Hit and Run Tactics:
- Use the leap and projectile barrage to hit enemies while maintaining distance. The explosions will continue dealing damage over time, making this a great hit-and-run strategy for Rangers who prefer to stay mobile and avoid direct confrontation.
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Combine with Other AoE Skills:
- Pair Toxic Growth with other AoE damage skills, like Vortex or Storm Call, to create even larger zones of destruction. By combining this skill with other area effects, you can maximize the pressure on your enemies.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Area of Effect: The skill affects a large area, with up to 8 projectiles firing at once, creating multiple toxic pustules on the ground.
- Poison Synergy: The Poison effect on the pustules enhances both damage and explosion speed, making it a great skill for Poison-based builds.
- Leaping Attack: The leap provides mobility, allowing you to reposition yourself while launching the attack, which is useful for avoiding enemy retaliation.
- Long Duration and Explosive Power: The explosions from Poisoned pustules are deadly and become more intense as you increase the Poison stacks.
Cons
- Increased Attack Time: The skill has an additional 0.7 seconds to the attack time, which may be a drawback for fast-paced combat situations where speed is essential.
- Poison Dependency: While the skill is very strong in Poison-based builds, it may not be as effective if you’re not focusing on Poison or damage over time mechanics.
- Limited Immediate Impact: The explosions have a delayed effect (6 seconds), meaning they don’t immediately affect enemies. You’ll need to time your attacks carefully, especially in fast-moving combat.
Gameplay Tips
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Poison Stack Management:
- Make sure you’re building up Poison stacks before the pustules explode to get the most out of the explosion damage. Support gems like Poison Support and Contagion can help you spread Poison quickly across enemies.
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Explosive Coverage:
- Use the explosive radius to your advantage by firing the projectiles into crowded areas. The Poison-enhanced explosions will hit multiple enemies, especially in tight spaces like dungeons or chokepoints.
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Movement and Positioning:
- The leap can help you position yourself for better shots or escape from dangerous situations. Use it strategically to keep distance while launching Toxic Growth at your enemies.
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Synergize with AoE Damage:
- Combine Toxic Growth with other AoE skills to create massive damage zones that overwhelm enemies. You can use Toxic Growth to lay down the groundwork and follow up with an explosive AoE skill to finish them off.
Support and Passive Recommendations
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Support Gems:
- Poison Support: Increases Poison damage, which boosts the effectiveness of Toxic Growth’s explosions.
- Multiple Projectiles: Increases the number of projectiles fired, expanding the area covered by the skill.
- Increased AoE: Expands the explosion radius of the pustules, causing them to affect more enemies in the area.
- Damage Over Time: Amplifies the overall damage over time caused by the explosions.
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Passive Tree:
- Focus on Poison and damage over time nodes to maximize the Poison explosion effects.
- Area of Effect and Projectile damage nodes will increase the explosion radius and damage output of the skill.
- Mana Regeneration or Mana Leech is crucial to maintain the mana cost during prolonged combat.
Conclusion
Toxic Growth is an exciting Bow-based skill that offers a unique blend of projectile mechanics, Poison synergy, and explosive AoE damage. Its ability to create toxic pustules that explode after a delay provides great crowd control and area denial. When combined with Poison and damage over time effects, this skill becomes a devastating tool for Ranger builds focused on Poison and AoE damage.